Warriors at Heart (The Last Kingdom Fanfic)

Chapter 29/Update

I'm sorry I've been slow on this one. I have a big deadline in my real life going on and probably won't be updating this much until it's over. So please bear with me for the next three weeks. Thank you for reading! 

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"What's happening out there?" Uhtred asked from below me.

"I'm not sure. There are guards surrounding the castle it looks like," I replied, straining to see in the dim light. "A bunch of robed men are going in the main entrance."

Uhtred carefully let me back down and we all sat in confusion as to what was going on. It was still dark out, therefore a very strange time for the castle to be up in so much commotion.

"Maybe they're feasting," I teased Brida, who scowled at me.

"What time is it?" Uhtred asked.

"Probably sometime in the early morning," I replied. "How long were we asleep for?"

"Not a clue," he shrugged.

We sat back down and waited for what felt like forever for the sun to rise.

I must've fallen back asleep for when I opened my eyes, I could see a little bit of sun shining into our cell. I got up and began pacing around, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

"How long does it take Alfred to clean himself up?" Brida asked, the bitterness from the night before now absent from her voice.

"Forever," I replied, turning and walking the other direction again.

"I bet he needs lots of help wiping his arse," she chuckled.

After a bit longer we could hear the doors being unlocked and Beocca stepped into the room we were being kept. "You are being summoned now," he said cheerfully.

"By Alfred?" Uhtred asked.

"Yes," Beocca replied, a bit more restrained having seen none of us jump for joy at hearing we were being called upon.

~~~~~

We silently followed the priest from the cell and up into the castle. We were led back into the scroll room where Alfred was awaiting us. He slowly turned upon hearing us enter and silently eyed us. His gaze shifted from me to Uhtred.

"Ah, Uhtred, please accept my apology for the delay in your release. I had other matters to attend to."

"Important enough to leave us to rot?" Brida snapped.

Alfred ignored her and continued speaking to Uhtred. "It seems you told the truth."

"I did," Uhtred replied calmly.

"Our victory is temporary, but nonetheless I am indebted, Wessex, is indebted to you. Is my apology enough?"

I scoffed at Alfred's calm manner. His complete lack of genuineness. "You don't sound very sorry to me."

"It is not enough, lord," Uhtred replied, keeping his tone calm.

Beocca looked alarm. His eyes widened and he seemed to think we had committed some serious crime. "What Uhtred means is that it is not necessary," Beocca tried to cover up our lack of interest in Alfred's pitiful apology.

"I wish to be seen as an Aelderman, because I am an Aelderman," Uhtred cut off Beocca.

Alfred squinted his eyes slightly as he thought over the statement. "In North Umbria. This is Wessex."

"This is England, one united kingdom," Uhtred shot back quickly.

"You are without lands, completely," Alfred replied.